Rest Peacefully Andy Gordon

I recently received an email from a dear friend telling Hillman and I some very sad news. Andy Gordon, a St. John resident, passed away May 20th while sleeping peacefully. He was diagnosed with Lymphoma and was in pain for 5 months prior with no diagnosis. 3 days prior to his death he was given his diagnosis. Hillman and I became friends with Andy and his lovely wife Dori in a very important time in our lives, our marriage. We stayed at Andy and Dori's incredible" peace of heaven" on the island of St. John in the U.S.Virgin Islands. They have a very unique home where they rent part of it to visitors and live in the rest. It is call Calabash Views. It is located on Calabash Boom and overlooks the beautiful waters of St. John. This is not just your typical vacation rental, this is a home in which Andy built with his own hands. When Hillman and I went to the island to get married, we did not expect to take away such a special friendship, one in which we will always cherish. Andy was a very talented musician and he was very passionate in his studies in all sorts of sciences. He was a very unique person, I guarantee, there is no one on this earth like him. I wish I was able to know him better but I feel very fortunate to have gotten to know him in the short time I stayed in his "piece of heaven". Please everyone keep Dori, his wife, and all of his family and friends in your thoughts and prayers while they try to make sense of this. Andy was only 53 years old. Thank you Andy and Dori for the unforgettable experience you gave Hillman and I at St. John, and for your special friendship. Andy will be missed very much. This is a piece of the email Dori sent to Hillman and I. She is such a special person, I think you'll see that here.

"But as this very email shows, life & death, birth & the cycle go round and round, round and round. It all seems so fast. Enjoy every moment my young ones. Enjoy every moment.
May your lives be filled with the joys of a baby's cry for its mama, and may you dance to the tune of Joy."

Every time I read this, my eyes fill with tears. ~Kara

Pants getting tighter, boobs STILL getting bigger

Whew! I am in my 13th week now. I am ready to start tossing my skinny jeans in pure anger and frustration cause now... there is absolutely no hope of squeezing back into them! BOO! I am out growing my "big girl" jeans and pants. I still do not look pregnant. I just look like i am putting on some extra baggage. Looks like i have thrown out all non-processed, nutrient dense foods and dove into fast food and doughnuts! I boobs are out of control! I have literally gone from a lovely size A cup to a enormous size D cup! AHHH! Try teaching aerobics with these jugs! I have to strap them down with TWO heavy duty sports bras and I'm still wincing every time i do a jumping jack in fear of a black eye!!! I try to have a pep talk with the girls " OK, lets pace ourselves, we still have a little over 6 months to go" but no luck. The girls don't listen!! At least i have lost my insane cravings for totally fattening foods (for the most part). My diet is much better, not back to normal mind you ,Oatmeal makes me turn and run for the bathroom , and real oatmeal and peanut butter was my breakfast of champions for years until i got preggers, but other than that, I'm feeling good. I got to hear the heartbeat a couple of weeks ago which was reassuring. Its so fast. I told Hillman and my DR. " oh, my baby's nervous" they laughed at me for obvious reasons. Oh well, that's all for now. ~K

Catchin' up with old friends

I am so blessed to still be connected to my friends that i grew up with. Lenora and I are best friends and we have been for so many years, lets see...15+years. Because of myspace, I have been able to reconnect with dozens of friends that i would have otherwise probably NEVER see again. Last Saturday, A good friend Vicki, had us all over for food and laughs. We broke out old notes, yearbooks and just really caught up. Everyone looks so good. Tiffany just had a baby and she looks fabulous as usual! She always did look great, Vicki is such a true person. She never changed that. She lives in a beautiful home and is married to a very good person, she seem so content with her life and that is so refreshing. Mandy , she still has that aura that makes everyone want to be around her. She is beautiful and so kind, happy and open. Lenora, well, she has grown so much. Lenora has continued to be a large part in my life for many many years and now...she will be an auntie to our child! Love you girl! In fact, I love ALL of you girls, If you read this know that you are all so important to me. Thanks for all the wonderful memories! ~K

Taming The Inner Pig

OK. When i am not heaving, which is becoming less and less (Thank God) I am like this...Full, Full, Full, Full, HUNGRY!!!!!! I mean when I'm hungry there is no waiting, no drinking water to see if it will pass, no chewing gum to curb the hunger pangs, no eating just a few crackers, NO, I must eat NOW! And usually alot! I am craving starchy foods that i never usually eat like cheese crackers, corn bread, mac and cheese, Fast food ( I haven't indulged in this yet),breads, SWEET POTATOES, I mean it's insane. Ice cream, I cant get enough! Low fat of course but still! A calorie is a calorie and trust me, Its going straight for my butt and thighs, oh and mid section! I am afraid to get on the scale to assess the damage! I think it's too late for damage control! Oh my! Taming my inner PIG is not as easy as it use to be for sure. My poor aerobics class participants are helping me make up for it by GRUELING workouts! Sorry guys, you know that's why you come to me anyways! ;-) So...moral of this story? Don't try to tame the inner pig when your a crazy, hungry pregnant woman, just go with it, and kick your ass with exercise! More walking lunges anyone??? ~K

Oh Dear!

I just got finished with the toughest semester EVER! Now I am taking a maymester class! AHHH!!! No brakes people! Its First aid and CPR so its not too bad...Be Well. ~K

Country Music Marathon

I just wanted to take a minute and write about the CMM. It was last Saturday, the 28th. I was going to run it but due to my pegnancy sickness, I had not been able to keep my mileage up, so I decided to for-go the event!It KILLED ME! I was going to run the half but I ended up on the side line cheering on my buddys and all of the other brave souls out there running. I went with my good friend Jerri Ann, who has done this race a couple of time and has completed a ridiculas amount of half and full marathons herself. She knew exactly where to go to watch. I cried when we saw everyone out there running, one reason...I am an emotional wreck thank to my pregnancy hormones but mostly because i wanted to be running too. It killed me not to be out there sweating and finishing with the rest of the runners. I got to see my husband twice which is amazing concidering there were 32,000 folks running it. I also saw my training buddy Stacey at mile 9. THey all rocked it! I was so proud of them. H. finished in 2.01 and Stacey right behind him at 2.03(i think). I love you guys and ill be there next year even if i have to push a stroller! Although Im sure my mom and dad will help me that day with the little one! Be Well...

 

Runnin' to beat the blues

So i was preggers here, I ran this race and started getting cramps! I was so pissed b/c about a mile into it i had to slow down cause i just couldn't keep my usual pace. I was so mad at my "pre-menstral"body slapping limitations on me!! Little did I know, It was baby telling me to slow the heck down! My good friend Stacey beat me that day, as most days she races with me, she's freakin' FAST but..she is not in my age group so...thats ok. We both placed 1st in our age group and Hillman placed 2nd. Now i tell Stacey...No wonder you beat me! I was Preg-o! We both know she would have beat me anyways! ;-) I am happy that my last 5k pre- baby, i still managed to squeeze first place out of it! Running is GOOD for the soul! Yes indeed!!!

My first Blog

Ok, so everyone is blogging these days! I might as well join the club... I'm glad to of coarse! ;-) I must fill you in on my life up to this point....ok..not everything. Today, I just finished the worst semester ever! I took on way too much this semester...18 hours of upper division coarses. It totally kicked my tail! Thats alright, I got through it with out killing my GPA! whew! I am almost finished with school, It will be pushed back just a tad because I am PREGNANT, yes its true. 8 Weeks...5 days preggers. I am due December 9th. My hubby and i are so excited! I will be blogging about this and i must worn you!! I am blunt, so know that before you start reading. ;-).

I am an aerobics instructor, and personal trainer and I intend to continue teaching throught out my pregnancy, I will be letting you know how that goes for sure! I am married a great man who makes me happier than i ever realized i could be. YAY! Ok, thats all im going to fill you in on now keep posted. Be Well!